Descriptive SummaryRepositoryThe Swarthmore College Peace Collection is not the official repository for this collection of records. Creator
Committee for Amnesty for All Objectors to War and Conscription TitleCommittee for Amnesty for All Objectors to War and Conscription Collected Records Inclusive Dates1945-1948Call Number
CDG-ALanguage of Materials
Materials in English Extent10 linear inches [papers only] Abstract
On January 12, 1946, the Committee for Amnesty for All Objectors to War and Conscription was established to seek an amnesty for "all objectors to war and conscription," which included men under army court-martial for their stance against war. The Committee's most widely publicized work was the sponsorship of picketing demonstrations at the White House in May and December 1946 calling for amnesty, but the organization also promoted its objectives through lobbying of Congressional and other government leaders, creating press releases and published literature, garnering support with signatures to petitions from around the country, and working as a liaison to other groups interested in the amnesty question. It is unknown exactly when the Committee disbanded, but the last meeting minutes are dated June 30, 1948.

Administrative InformationRestrictions to AccessNone Usage Restrictions
NoneAlternate Form of Material
None Acquisitions Information
Gift of War Resisters League Processing Information
Processed by SCPC staff. Checklist created by Anne Yoder, October 2002. Finding aid revised by Andrew Ciampa, June 23, 2010. Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Committee for Amnesty for All Objectors to War and Conscription Collected Records (CDG-A), Swarthmore College Peace CollectionCopyright NoticeCopyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law

Online Catalog Headings These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online library/archival catalogs.See tripod record

Historical BackgroundOn December 1, 1945, representatives from numerous peace organizations (including the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the War Resisters League, and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom), met in New York City to discuss establishing a committee that could work proactively on the question of amnesty for conscientious objectors. It was agreed to form the Committee for Amnesty for War Objectors and Selective Service Violators, with A.J. Muste as Chair. On January 12, 1946, the name of the group was changed to Committee for Amnesty for All Objectors to War and Conscription. The Committee's purpose was to seek an amnesty for "all objectors to war and conscription," which included men under army court-martial for their stance against war. The Committee's main office was at 5 Beekman Street in New York City, but a Washington, D.C.office (dissolved by June 1946), and a Chicago office were formed as well. Stanley Murphy was Organizing Secretary until March 1946, whereupon Albon Man took over the position. Vivien Roodenko was employed as secretary in the Washington, D.C. office, and later in the New York City office. Among the Committee's proponents were Emily Greene Balch, Pearl Buck, Dorothy Canfield Fisher, Harold Ickes, A.J. Muste, Robin Myers and Igal Roodenko. The Committee's most widely publicized work was the sponsorship of picketing demonstrations at the White House in May and December 1946 calling for amnesty, but the organization also promoted its objectives through lobbying of Congressional and other government leaders, creating press releases and published literature, garnering support with signatures to petitions from around the country, and working as a liaison to other groups interested in the amnesty question.

It is unknown exactly when the Committee disbanded, but the last meeting minutes are dated June 30, 1948.

It is unlikely that this collection contains everything issued by the Committee during its existence. The War Resisters League donatated the files in this collection to the Swarthmore College Peace Collection at the instigation of Albon Man.